I don’t know what it is in my recent experiences, but I’ve been noticing several local businesses that deserve praise.

Cedar Ridge is a unique restaurant near Atchison, Kansas. Offering special buffet fare on Friday and Saturday evenings and on Sundays mid-day, this place is a gem in the rolling hills of eastern Kansas. The hosts/owners have established the restaurant on their farm in a barn. From outside, one wouldn’t be able to tell what delights await inside. Some will enjoy the eclectic, sometimes “shabby chic” decor (or even driving a mile and a half on a dirt road), and all will enjoy the well-prepared food. We particularly enjoy the brunch fare on Sundays around noon.

Los Tucanes is a Mexican restaurant in Kensett, Arkansas. Apparently family run, the

precious children take minor serving roles and do a stellar job—far better, actually, than many older servers at chain restaurants. The food is good, the salsa is fantastic, the prices are reasonable, and the whole place is a pleasure every time.

The final and most extended mention here goes to Powell Funeral Home, west of Searcy, Arkansas. Although I have sung for and attended dozens of funerals, I had never really been a “customer” before. From the first time I walked in with my mom to the last visit to finalize a few things a week ago, I’ve continued to feel that there’s no way every funeral home could be as good as this one. The comments below are abbreviated from an online survey I completed.

Our experience with each staff member and the facilities has been so positive that it would not seem right not to comment. I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of local establishments that I would take the initiative to recommend to others, and Powell is without doubt now on that very short list. [Since we opted to take care of some things by ourselves as a family, etc.], we did not have as complete an experience of the funeral home as other families, but that does not in any way alter our entirely positive impression of the facility and the way the people go about the business.

Specifically, we were without exception greeted hospitably and with an obvious willingness to answer any questions. Members of the family visited Powell approximately six times. Each staff member, without exception (even where we cannot remember names) was 10patient and helpful.

The standouts in our minds at this point are Brooks Sawyers, whose absolutely excellent demeanor is combined with rare efficiency and capability in office logistics and processes. Quite frankly, I don’t know how Brooks could have been better throughout the last six weeks, up to and including our most recent visit to the office regarding additional insurance company needs for documentation. I’m sure you have heard this before, but it is an exceptionally significant relief to be ushered through the process of assigning a portion of a life insurance policy to pay expenses. Dale suggested this at just the right time and worked through Brooks on the details while two of us waited with confidence that things were being taken care of. Dale manifest both knowledge and a strong ability to gauge our needs and personalities. Again, each staff member has been a credit to the organization, without exception, but Brooks and Dale rise to the top in our memories.

2 thoughts on “Businesses that deserve praise”

Brian, thank you for sharing this today. I can sense the atmosphere, appreciate the experiences you were describing. I must confess that each time I think of your dad’s passing, tears begin. But I quickly remind myself that he is Home at last…where he lived his entire life preparing to go. Sometimes Grief continues to be a puzzle…I am happy that Dan and Gerald are together…but there is a hollow place inside of me. God wants to fill that empty, lonely space…tears can cleanse the heart and soul…I will “let God in.” Prayers continue for you and all who love and miss Gerald.
~~ Aunt Anne B.

This may sound odd, but you never seem taken aback by my oddities) . . . I think the use of the word “grief” has kept me from exploring the experiences to which it refers. For me there is a sound to the word, combined with associations based on who-knows-what, that keep me at bay. I’m wondering right now whether certain aspects of how I experience life in “normal times” have de-intensified how I grieve, if that makes any sense. Tears and tender thoughts and “missing” do happen, and I’ve had a couple of times that I would classify as one of the “stages.” I honestly don’t know whether I have even begun to grieve yet, but I suppose it doesn’t matter too much how typically or atypically I move through two or four of the “stages.”